Shuttle and filling unit for wire-looms



Patented Mar, 29, 1921'.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. S, SOUTHWICK.v

SHUTTLE AND FILLING UNIT FOR WTRE LOOIVIS` APPLICATLON FILED )LILY T2T919.

Patene Mar. 2Q, 1921.

v5' sums-SHEET 2.

www, PMU@ M mm1 www m 1 l;

W. S. SOUTHWICK.

SHUTTLE AND FILLING UNIT FOR WIRE Looms. APPLICATION FILED IULY I2.1919.

W. S.- SOUTHWICK.

SHUTTLE AND FILLING UNIT FOR WIRE LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I2. i919,

wE s. SOUTHWICK.

SHUTTLE AND FILLING UNIT FOR WIRE-LOOMS. lAPPLICATION FILED JULY 12.|919.

HQRRIS PEEns. INC.. LITHO.. WAsHxNswx. D, C

' Lacasse.'

rrsur oies.

WILLIAM S. SOUTI-IWICK, OF CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS; ASSIGrNOIt,r BY MESNEy ASSIGNMENTS, T0 `WI(}IK-\/VIIRE SPENCER STEEL COB/IE'ORATION,y ACORPORA- TION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

SHUTTLE AND FILLING UNIT FOR WIRE-LOOMS.

To all whom t may 'concer/rt: Y

Be i known that I, l/VILLIAM S. SOUTH- wrok7 a citizen of the UnitedStates, resid# ing at Clinton, in the county of Worcester and ,State of.Massachusetts, have invented Shuttles and Filling Units for Wire-Looms,of which the following is a specification.

rllhis invention relates .to ainew and improved shuttle and filling unitfor wire looms.

In the drawings illustrating one embodiment of my invention wherein likeparts are indicated by like characters wherever they occur in accordancewith my invention, the parts appearing in the position they occupy inthel loom; t

Fig. 2 in side elevation `shows the parts illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the shuttle on theline 3 3. of'` Fig. l looking injtlie direction of the arrows, thefilling unit being omitted;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on p the line 4-401? Fig. 3looking in the direction of the arrows, there being represented inaddition a viewofl a partv of the under ment of its entry into' theshuttle A Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the spool holder 'andspool-carrying the filling, the spool being separatedA from the spoolholding pins` for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 6 is a top'plan view of the spool holder showing at the sidesflanges for en!" gaging complemental grooves in the shuttle;4

the notches in the flanges for engaging with, latches carried by theshuttle, also shoi'ving` a central stud upon which the spool israrfranged, two pins for engaging apertures in being omitted;

i latch carried by the shuttle;f side of the filling spool at thecominencef specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 29, 192L QApplication med Juiy i2, 1919. serial No. 310,321.

Fig. k9 is a vertical sectional viewv of the spool and 'the spool holderin the position f of the arrows showing the sliding shuttlek bar and thebearing or raceway therefor;

VvFig. 11- is a detail view of an adjusting screw shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a vdetail perspective view of the cap plate which engageskthe top and one .l y' side of the sliding shuttle bar as a part ofFigure 1 'in top plan view shows a shuttle" and filling unit for wirelooms constructedthe bearing or raceway forsaid bar, a portion of thevlatter being shown in position atthe leftliand end of the figure; n Y

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view of the Fig. 14 is a detailperspective view of the upper plate shown in Fig. 13 orI the plate upon`which the spool or filling yholder is directly mounted;

ig. 15 is a detail perspective view lof the shuttle,` the shuttlelatches being omitted; Fig. 16 isa detail perspective view ofxa Fig.17is a detailperspective view of a bell crank cam lever mechanism shown attheright in Fig. 8, the-parts being sepa,

rated to show their construction;

Fig. 18 is a detail perspective view of the shuttle latch carried by theshuttle bar appearing at the left hand in Fig. 8; the shut' ofi" fromthe tip. The wire filling units for wire looms are prepared in oneoftwoy forms, depending upon the character of the filling; in one forni,where a soft wire filling ora fine wire filling is employed, said llingsare ordinarily prepared inthe form of a ball, and the filling is pulledout yfrom the inside of the ball; in the other form, or the form towhich my invention is particularly addressed, where a large wire fillingor a hard wire filling is employed, said fillings are prepared in theform of a spool,

loom of any preferred construction designed I for positively operatingthe shuttle by meansV of a bar, the general framework of the loom beingomitted as well' as the parts of the loom other Jthan the bar andaportion of the lay, because such mechanismV and framework are wellknown.

In suoli looms, the lay ordinarily em-V ployed is composed of ahorizontal beam, as 1, above the path of the shuttle, and a 'secondhorizontal beam, as 2, below the path of the shuttle, the two beams 1and 2 being connected by two vertical bars, 011e of said bars 3 beingshown in Fig. 8, the second bar would appear at the left but is notshown since the beams are broken away. 4 represents a casting formedwith vtwo vertical.

slots 5, 5. In each slot is arranged a bolt 6. A nut 7 on each boltserves to `clamp the casting 4 at any desired vertical adjustment on thebeam 2, as well as to aline said casting. 8 represents an extension ofthe casting 4 formed with. two bearings 9, 10. Fach of these bearings 9and 10 is made up of a horizontal wall or bearing 9a, as shown in Fig.10, with respect to the bearing and a vertical wall 9b. 11 represents avcap plate, see Figs. 7, i8` and 12. 4As shown, this cap plate has thegeneral shape of an angle iron, one wall of which, 11a, is vertical andthe other wall, 11", is horizontal. As shown'in Fig. 10, the walls 9aand 9b of the bearing 9 engage the bottom and one side ofthe slidingshuttle bar 18` while the walls 11b and 11a of the plate 11 engage thetop and opposite side of the shuttle bar 18, the four walls constitutinga bearing in which the shuttle bar 18 slides.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 1,2,the wall 11b of the cap plate 11 isprovided with holes 12, 12, 12, through which cap screws 13 pass andengage complemental screw-threaded holes in the vertical wall 9b of thebearing 9 to rigidly secure the cap plate` 11 in position. The wall 11bof the cap plate 11 is further formedwith two depending ears 14, 14,terminating in a boss 15, 15, that is finished onY its outer face, whilethe `complemental inner face of the ears 14, 14 are also finished. Asshown, each boss 15 isformed witha slot 16.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11,17 represents anadjusting screw arranged toenter complemental screwthreaded apertures 17 in the vertical wall 9F.This screw 17 at its outer end is formed with a head 17 b adapted toengage the iinished face of the boss lo'.

17c represents a flange fast on the screw 174 adapted to engage theinner or finished face of the depending ears 14, the latter occupyingthe space between the flange 17c and the head 17". By this constructionthe Wall 11L can be adjusted to the right in Fig. 10 to secure a properfit with the shuttle bar 18, and also to allow for wear.

YReferring to Figs. 7 and 8, the left hand end of the shuttle bar 18 isformed with a mouth-piecevsocalled, 19, to receive one end of theshuttle 20. 4 21 represents a latch le-y ver in the form ofa bell-crank,pivoted at the end of one of its armsl22 by a screw 23 to the shuttlebar 18. The end of the other arm 24 is formed with a hook 25 adapted toengage a notch 26 in either end of the shuttle 20. 27 representsa rodone end of which is pivoted at 28 to the angle of the bell-crank latchlever 21. shuttle bar 18`in Figs. 7 and 8 is provided with a lug 29,formed with a perforation The right hand end of the 31 represents acoiled spring arranged on the rod 27 between the lug 29 and a collar 32,

secured to the rod 27 at any desired point by a set screw 33. The spring31 when conipresseol tends to throw therod 27 to the left, in Figs. 7and 8. 34 represents a pintle in the shuttle bar 18 upon `which is`arranged the forked end 35l of a rod 35, the opposite end of which isconnectedto a suitable inechanism for givin to the shuttle bar itsdesired reciprocation. 36 represents an extension on the right hand endlof the shuttle bar 18, in Figs. 7 and 8. This extension carries a stud37 upon which is arranged hub 38 of a bell-crank lever, the end of onearm of which is formed with a cam surface 39. The end of the other arm4of this bellcrank lever is formed with forked arms 4U, 40, see Fig. 7arranged uponeither side of a screw-threaded end 271 of the rod 27,vbetween two adjustable nuts 41, 41, see Fig. 17. The movement of thebell-crank on the stud 37 causes the forks 40, 40, by engaging the nuts41, 41, to move the rod 27- to the right, Figs. 7 and 8, by meanshereinafter described. The rod is thrown in the opposite direction bythe action of the spring 31 when said rod is released from control ofthe forks 40, 40. 42 represents a casting, the lefthand end of which isformed with horizontal slots 43, 43. 44, 44 represent two bolts carriedby the extension 8 and arranged in the slots 43, 43. Nuts 45,45 on thesebolts serve to clamp the casting 42I to the extension 8 in any desiredposition of ad` justment to the right or left in Figs. 7 and 8.

. the opposite end of the shuttle.

amazes;

The right hand endl of the casting 42 is formed with an inclined camsurface 46, terminating in a horizontal dwell surface 47.l As theshuttle bar 18 is reciprocated by means of the rod 35 to the left inFig. 8, the cam surface39 will engage the cam surface 46, drawing therod 27 to the right in Figs. 7 and 8, pulling the hook 25 out of thenotch 26 in the shuttle, and thus releasing the shuttle from thisshuttle bar. As is usual in such looms, the shuttle bar continues topush the shuttle a short distance after the latch is released and whilea corresponding liook ina corresponding shuttle bar on the opposite sideof the shed engages During this continued motion ofthe shuttle barshown, the hook is maintained out of engagement with the notch 26 of theshuttle by means of the cam surface 39 engaging the dwell surface 47.The latter surface controls the cam 39 long enough for the shuttle baron the opposite side of the shed to engage and draw the shuttle-awayfrom the i shuttle bar under, discussion. This is a point it-is seizedby the opposite shuttle bar and pulled through the ybalance of the shed.The same description applies to subsequent passa es of the shuttlethrough the shed.

Re erring to Figs. 5 to 15, my improved shuttle consists of a lowerplate48, the material of which at each end extends up to form a shortvertical wall 49, then extends inwardly to form a rib50, thus providinga groove or raceway 51, 51, upon each side of the plate. Extending fromeach side of the plate 48 is a tang or shuttle nose 52, 52, f

each of which is formed with a notch 26.

The top wall of the tangs 52,52is extended over. the plate 48 asabridgepiecel 53 con,- necting thetwotangs. The main'palt of the bridgepiece 53 is slightly above the top surface of the tangs 52, see Fig. 15,being formed with an incline 54 at either end.

55, 55 represent slots in the inner 'end of the tangs 52, said slotsopening into the chamber formed by the plate 48 and the` bridge piece53, and extending across atf 55L the ribs 50, 50. 56, 56 representlatches arranged in the slots 55, 55, and mounted on the pintles 57, 57.One end ofthe latch,

as at 58, can project into the chamber through the space 55a inthe rib.The op-` posite end of the latch is formed with a r 58 of the latch intothe chamber, into the space 55a, across the groove 51. Theinner end ofeachslot 55, 55, is formed by an inner wall 63, 63, which engages thearm 58V of the latches56, 56, and limits the inward movement of the end58, 58, of the latches. The shuttle thus far described differs fromprior shuttles used in wire looms, so far as l'. am aware, in theprovision of the latches 56, the plate 48 rigidly secured to or integralwith the shuttle body, the ribs 50 and the grooves 51. The tangs 52 withtheir notches 26 are common to shuttles used in wire looms'. v Referringto Figs. 5, 6, 13 and 14, wherei is shown my improved filling unitadapted to handle klarge wire fillings or hard wire fillings, 64represents a plate formedwith side flanges 65, 65, adapted to lit andslide in the grooves 51, 51 of the shuttle. On its upper surface andinside the flanges 65 this plate is cut away to form an inclosedcircular space, as 67, having a bounding wall 66.

In the center of the circular space 67 is an opening 68 formed in theplate 64 to receive the end of a post 69 that is rigidly secured to theplate by upsetting or otherwise.

apiece of metal to the form shown. 7 0, see Fig. 13, represents acircular plate formed with a .central opening`71 adapted to fit looselyon the-,post 69, permitting the plate to reston the bottom wall of thecircular opening 67, the said platebeing of less diameter than thecircular opening 67 72 represents a vertical circular extension of theplate 70,:but offless exterior diameter than the plate 70. Thisconstruction may be `cast or turned up` or ymay be made of two platessecured together, eachliaving a uniform opening to take over the post'69,' but the plate 70 being greater 1n outside diameter than itsvertical extension 72. 3, 73 represent two `pins secured inthe plate 72and adapted to enter corresponding holes 74, 74, in thespool hereinafterdescribed, see Fig'. 9. 75, see Figs. 5 and 6represents a coiled springarranged in the circular chamber 67. The inner end of this spring isloosely positioned in a notch 76 of the 4The plate 64 as described maybek either cast or it may be turned down from' ico i plate 70. The outerend of said spring 77 rests against the inner face of the wall 66, butis notv attached to it, so the springv can drag along the surface of thewall of said rib. In-assembling this part of 'the `filling unit theplate 70 and its extension 72 are Q dropped over the post 69 and thespring 7 5 arranged between Vthe plate 65 and thewall 66 withy thejinner end 78 of the spring arranged in the notch 76. Then la circularplate ,7 9 formed with an opening sufficient to slide. down over theedge of the extension 72 is slid in lace, resting uponV the wall 66 andextending over the upper. wall 80 of the plate 70, but notI engaging thecirshuttle will be substantially'the same.

-. 83, having a right angle wall 84 on one side and an inclined wall 85`on the other. .The flanges 65beyond the notches 83 are beveled, as at86, 86. The plate 64 at its opposite end is formed with a notch 87. Thebevels j86, 86, are `to facilitate the introductionof this plate and theparts carried thereby into the shuttle. Said inclines further serve toengage supplemental inclines 86a, 86CL on the latches to push the latterone side until they come opposite the notches 83 when they are snapped`into place in said notches by the action of the springs 60,60. The notch87 is designed to engage the filling outside of the shuttle to keep thefilling in place when several of these fillingy `units are stacked in amagazine. This notch has no function after the unit has been placed inthe shuttle.

Referring to Fig. 9, my fillingholder or spool consists of a barrel, as88, formedwith a central opening, as 89, to loosely fit on the post 69.90, represent two plates of hard steel, one arranged" upon either end ofthe barrel 88 and secured thereto by .rivets 91. The plates 90, 90 arecircular and formed` with openings corresponding to openings 89. Theseplates form the side walls of the.

spool, the lling 92 being wound upon the barrel 88 between the plates90, 90. The barrel is preferably made of wood or some light material,with holes 74, 74 to receive the pins 73, 73. The spool constructed asstated with its filling is slid'down upon Vthe post 69, the pins 73entering the holes 74. With the parts arranged as described, vthe spring7 5 acts as a friction to yieldingly resist the unwinding motion of thespool.

When the filling in a shuttle has been exhausted from a spool at apredetermined point,another filling unit such as shown in Fig. 5 isinserted in the shuttle, pushing out the prior filling unit and at thesame time the plate of the new filling unit is locked in place by thelatches. rllhis can bedone by hand, but preferably automatically, as setforth in another application filed by me.

vIn Figli, the commencement of such substi# tutionlof a full unit for anexhausted unit is' in part illustrated. Prior to my invention, so far asl ain aware, the substitution of `filling units in the shuttle of a wireloom has been done by hand. lllhether such substitution be done by handor automatically by using my improved filling unit, the action of thelatter in its entry to and exit from the either case the shape andarrangement ofthe walls 84 land 85 of the notches 83, combined with theshapeof the operative face of the latches 56 carried by the shuttle issuch 'that InV these latches are pushed bach o'utoffengagcment with thenotch by a continued movement of the .plate in one direction, but said ihold the plate againstreverse imo latches tion.

4Referring to Figs. 7 sents a block formed with holes ateache'nd 21h.This block is arranged 'in the hollow shuttle bar 18 and secured-inplaceby rivets 2lc passing through the wall ofv the shut l '7b sidev isformed witha` recess 21min which-isy tle bar and the holes 21".Thisiblocklon-one arranged the arm 22 of the latch21 and pivL otallymounted as heretofore described upon the screw 23.

Having thus explained the nature ,of myl invention and described away ofconstructof its use, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:-` i

1. A. shuttle comprising two plates spaced i apart to form the wallsof afilling chamber,

a shuttle'nose connected to one side of said i plates, acomplementalshuttle nose connect- .i

ed tothe opposite side of said plates, one wall of said chamber beingformed with a guideway positioned crosswise ofsaid chamber, a recessformed in the inner-endof-said" last-mentioned shuttle nose andextending into said guideway', and alatch arranged-'in and adapted saidrecess in the {shuttle nose to enter said guide way. Y Y

2. Afillmg unit comprising a base plate formed upon one sideVwithaguidemcmfY ber,.a wall onsaid plate' inside said member 'forming aspring chamber, a stud having one end secured to said plate near thecenter of said chamber, a spring plate loosely arranged `on said stud'fin said chamber, a

spring arranged in'said Vchamber between said wall and'saidispringplate, `the inner end of said lspring' being loosely connected to `saidspring plate,`but"not connected to said wall, a circular spoolsupporting plate fast on the top ofthe spring plate and of less diameterthan the latter, a centralaperture formed in said two platesto looselylit on said stud, a pin secured to the top of the spool plate on onesideof said opening, a cover plate formed with a central aperture largerthan that of the spool plate but less than that of the spring plate.said plate being arranged to rest on said spring plate and said wallover said springand being secured to the wall, a filling spool having acentral hub and side walls to hold thefilling, said hub being formedwith a central hole to loosely fit on said stud and a second hole toreceive the pin inthe .spring plate.

3. Ashuttle formed with a filling chamber open on opposite sides. 'alateral guideway formed on one wall of said chamber, a

latch carried by said shuttle a filling carrier comprising a base plateprovided with a guide member complemental to said guideway and a part tocoact with said latch, a spool stud carried by said plate, a lling spoolloosely mounted on said stud, and means carried by said plate toyieldingly resist the motion of the spool in one direction.

4. A shuttle formed with a filling chamber open on opposite sides, aplate provided with means for supporting a filling spool, and meanscarried by one of said parts to guide said plate in a predetermined pathinto and through said chamber.

5. shuttle formed with a spool chamber and a shuttle nose at each end ofsaid chamber, a latch carried by said shuttle a plate, means carried bysaid plate arranged to coact with said latch to yieldingly lock saidplate in position but to permit its ejection, l

a stud carried by said plate, a filling spool mounted on said stud, andmeans carried by said plate coacting with said spool to yieldinglyresist the motion of the spool in one direction.

6. A shuttle formed with a chamber open on opposite sides, saidopenings'constituting an entrance and exit for the chamber, a lockingmember extending into said chamber a plate, a spool stud on said plate,a lling spool mounted on said stud, said plate being formed at the frontend with a partI to move the locking member of the shuttle out ofoperative position, means on said plate situated to the rear of itsfront end to coact with said member on the shuttle to yieldingly locksaid plate in position in the shuttle and hold it against rearwardmovement, the parts being so constructed as to yield and permit acontinued movement of the platethrough and out of the shuttle.

7. A shuttle formed with a filling chamber open on opposite sides,combined with a plate carrying a filling spool stud, a filling spoolmounted thereon, and complemental coacting members carried by said plateand said shuttle to yieldingly hold said plate in position in saidchamber and to resist any reverse motion of said plate while permit tinga continued forward motion of the plate for the ejectment of theplate.

8. A lling unit comprising a'base plate formed with a guide member, ashuttle locking member carried by said plate, the front end of saidguide member being formed with a bevel, the end oit said plate oppositesaid bevel being provided with a filling member, a spool stud carried bysaid plate, and-a filling spool mounted thereon.

9. A iilling unit comprising a base plate formed with a guide member,the front end of said guide member being formed with an incline, alocking member carried by said guide member, a spool stud carried bysaid plate and a spool mounted on said stud.

10. In combination a shuttle and a filling unit comprising a bobbinand aholder therefor, said shuttleand said holder having cooperative slidingconnections arranged to confine the movement of the holder in relationto the .shuttle in a straight line, and said bobbin being rotatablerelatively tosaid holder.

1l. In combination a shuttle and a filling unit comprising a holder anda bobbin carried thereby, said shuttle and holder having vcooperativedisconnectible sliding tongueand-groove to rear.

12. In combination a shuttle, a `filling unit comprising a holder and abobbin carried thereby, said shuttle and holder having portionsextending from front coperative rigid` tongue-and-groove portionsarranged to slide one in another, and means arranged to keep said holderin a predetermined position relatively to said shuttle.

13. In combination a shuttle, a bobbin holder, said shuttle and holderhaving cooperative portions arranged to slide one upon another, saidholder being detachable from said shuttle, means arranged to keep saidholder in a predetermined position relatively to said shuttle, saidholder having a stud, and afbobbin arranged on said stud and adapted torotate to let out the lling carried thereby. l

ln testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

WILLIAM S. SOUTHWICK.

